Summary
– Top athletes delaying season debut races.
– Some cite injuries, others reasons unclear.
– Less than 50 days until 2024 Olympics.
In the lead-up to an Olympic year, anticipation typically surges as top-tier track and field athletes worldwide gear up for a series of rigorous competitions. These events serve as vital milestones, allowing athletes to fine-tune their skills, gauge their fitness levels, and ultimately, solidify their readiness for the pinnacle of athletic excellence: the Olympic Games.
However, amidst the flurry of preparations and anticipation for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, an intriguing narrative has emerged within the athletic community. Contrary to the expected norm, a select group of star athletes has chosen to deviate from the conventional path, opting to delay their season’s debut races.
This unconventional approach has raised eyebrows and sparked speculation among fans and pundits alike. While some athletes have openly attributed their decision to a need for additional time to recover from lingering injuries, others have remained cryptic about their motives, leaving observers to ponder the underlying reasons for their delay.
As the countdown to the much-anticipated Paris Olympics continues, the absence of these notable names from the early-season competitions adds an air of mystery to the unfolding narrative. With less than 50 days remaining until the commencement of the Games, the athletic world eagerly awaits further developments and insights into the strategies and preparations of these enigmatic athletes. Will their calculated gamble pay off, allowing them to peak at the opportune moment and deliver standout performances on the grandest stage of them all? Only time will tell as the journey towards Olympic glory unfolds amidst intrigue and anticipation.
Athletes who are yet to open 2024 outdoor season
The top athletes who are yet to compete in the outdoor season in their preferred disciplines this season.
1. Faith Kipyegon – 1500m, 5000m
Faith Kipyegon was the Woman of the Year in 2023, scooping one of the six awards for Athletes of the Year. The double Olympic champion in the 1,500m has already qualified for the Paris Olympics but is yet to qualify for the 5,000m.
She was supposed to open her season at the Prefontaine Classic on May 25 but withdrew due to what she cited as a ‘small muscle problem’. Kipyegon will now open her season at the Kenya
2. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce – 100m
In what is expected to be her final year after a highly successful track career, many fans
The Jamaican sprint sensation confirmed that Paris 2024 will be her last dance. The five-time World 100m champion and three-time Olympic gold medalist picked up a muscle injury at the tail end of the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest.
3. Athing Mu – 800m
The reigning Olympic champion was supposed to open her season at the Prefontaine Classic, but her coach, Bobby Kersee, stated she had lingering hamstring issues.
The American Olympic trials start on June 21, and we might see the 21-year-old begin her season then.
4. Shaunae Miller-Uibo – 400m
Four months after giving birth, Miller-Uibo attended the 2023 World Championships in Budapest and competed in the 400m. Although she failed to advance out of the heats, this was a strong indication that she wanted to make a swift comeback.
5, Noah Lyles – 200m
Well, this is debatable inclusion, given that Lyles has been ‘in our faces’ literally the whole year. In his pursuit of winning four gold medals in Paris, the American started his season early at the World Indoors.
He has also competed in the 150m at the Atalanta City Games and a couple of 100m, but he has yet to race in his favourite 200m.
